Meropenem Information & Meropenem Links at HealthHaven.com

Meropenem
Systematic (IUPAC) name
	3-[5-(dimethylcarbamoyl) pyrrolidin-2-yl] sulfanyl-6- (1-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-7-oxo- 1-azabicyclo[3.2.0] hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid
Identifiers
CAS number	119478-56-7
ATC code	J01DH02
PubChem	64778
DrugBank	APRD01097
Chemical data
Formula	C17H25N3O5S
Mol. mass	383.464 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	100%
Protein binding	Approximately 2%.
Metabolism	?
Half life	1 hour
Excretion	Renal
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	B(US)
Legal status	POM(UK) ℞-only(US)
Routes	IV
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Meropenem is an ultra-broad spectrum injectable antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of infections, including meningitis and pneumonia. It is a beta-lactam and belongs to the subgroup of carbapenem, similar to imipenem and ertapenem. Meropenem was originally developed by Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals. It is marketed outside Japan by AstraZeneca with the brand names Merrem and Meronem. Other brand names include Mepem (Taiwan) Meropen (Japan, Korea) and Neopenem (India) . It gained FDA approval in July 1996. It penetrates well into many tissues and body fluids including the cerebrospinal fluid, bile, heart valves, lung, and peritoneal fluid.^[1]

[edit] Mechanism of action

Meropenem is bactericidal except against Listeria monocytogenes where it is bacteriostatic. It inhibits bacterial wall synthesis like other beta-lactam antibiotics. In contrast to other beta-lactams, it is highly resistant to degradation by beta-lactamases or cephalosporinases. Resistance generally arises due to mutations in penicillin binding proteins, production of metallo-beta-lactamases, or resistance to diffusion across the bacterial outer membrane.^[2] Unlike imipenem, it is stable to dehydropeptidase-1 and can therefore be given without cilastatin.

[edit] Indications

The spectrum of action includes many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and even some anaerobic bacteria. The overall spectrum is similar to imipenem although meropenem is more active against Enterobacteriaceae and less active against gram-positive bacteria. It is also very resistant to extended-spectrum beta lactamases but may be more susceptible to metallo-beta-lactamases.^[1] Meropenem is frequently given in the treatment of febrile neutropenia. This condition frequently occurs in patients with hematological malignancies and cancer patients receiving anticancer drugs that cause bone marrow suppression..

[edit] Administration

Meropenem must be administered intravenously. It is supplied as a white crystalline powder to be dissolved in 5% monobasic potassium phosphate solution.

[edit] Common adverse effects

The most common adverse effects are diarrhea (4.8%), nausea and vomiting (3.6%), injection-site inflammation (2.4%), headache (2.3%), rash (1.9%), and thrombophlebitis (0.9%).^[2] Many of these adverse effects were observed in the setting of severely ill individuals who were already taking many medications. Meropenem also has a reduced potential for causing seizures in comparison with imipenem.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b AHFS DRUG INFORMATION 2006 (2006 ed ed.). American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. 2006.
^ ^a ^b Mosby's Drug Consult 2006 (16 ed ed.). Mosby, Inc.. 2006.

[AHFS-0] AHFS DRUG INFORMATION 2006 (2006 ed ed.). American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. 2006.

[Mosby-1] Mosby's Drug Consult 2006 (16 ed ed.). Mosby, Inc.. 2006.

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Contents

[edit] Mechanism of action

[edit] Indications

[edit] Administration

[edit] Common adverse effects

[edit] References